METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING SPRAYING OF A MIXTURE OF OIL AND WATER TO FORM A LIQUID MIST, ESPECIALLY WITH A VIEW TO LAYING DUST IN ANIMAL STABLES

Abstract: In a method for atomizing spraying-out of a mixture of oil and water so as to form a liquid mist, especially with a view to laying dust in animal stables (1), the new feature is that the oil and the water are supplied separately to at least one injector (6), in which they are mixed before being sprayed out (4). With this arrangement, a satisfactory laying of dust is achieved without the necessity of using a previously prepared emulsion containing emulsifier and without risk of clogging, if the emulsion breaks down, e.g. in the interval between spraying operations.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING SPRAYING OF A MIXTURE O OIL AND WATER TO FORM A LIQUID MIST, ESPECIALLY WITH A VIE TO LAYING DUST IN ANIMAL STABLES. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method of th kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND ART From the publication "Orientering nr. 76" ("Inform ation No. 76") of December 1991 from the Danish Governmenta Agrotechnical Experimental Station, Bygholm, Horsens, Den mark, it is known to bind or lay flying dust in animal stables by spraying out a liquid mist of the kind referre to above. The process of mixing oil and water has until no been carried out by first forming an oil-in-water emulsio with a considerably greater proportion of oil than require for the liquid mist itself, upon which this emulsion is di luted with a suitable amount of water and sprayed out throug e.g. atomizing nozzles. To make it possible to form an emul sion of a merely reasonable stability, it has up to no been necessary to use emulsifiers, but this may entail risk of long-time effects on the respiratory organs of th animals - and also of the personnel. Another disadvantag is that the emulsion may at times break down, e.g. in con nection with prolonged intervals between the individua spraying operations, causing the formation of lumps tha may cause clogging, not least of the atomizing nozzles Further, after prolonged storage of the concentrated emul sion, the consistency of which may be compared to thin mayon naise or the like, problems may arise due to microbial growt and the ensuing risk of the formation of toxic substances. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION On the background of the above, it is the object o the present invention to provide a method of the kind refer ed to initially, that does not suffer from the disadvantage and risks referred to above, and this object is achieved b proceeding as set forth in the characterizing clause o claim 1. Since this method does not imply the use of an previously prepared emulsion, the associated disadvantage in the form of a risk of breakdown of the emulsion and mi crobial growth disappear automatically; as is well known, oil - in the present case normally vegetable oil, e.g. rap seed oil - may be stored for a considerably longer tim than an emulsion, without the occurrence of any microbia growth or other deterioration of importance. Since the quantity of oil used is considerably les than the quantity of water used, it is preferred, accordin to a first embodiment of the method according to the invent ion, to proceed as set forth in claim 2. If so, it is pre ferred according to a further development of this embodimen to proceed as set forth in claim 3. In this manner, it i possible to achieve partly a highly effective mixing of th two components and atomizing of the mixture, partly a pos sibility of utilizing pumping equipment in many cases alread available, viz. in the form of the pumping equipment in high-pressure cleaner - as is well known, an apparatus fo cleaning surfaces by means of liquid jets ejected unde high pressure. The present invention also relates to an apparatu for use in carrying out the method according to the invent ion, and this apparatus is characterized by the feature set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 4. Such a apparatus has proved highly efficient for carrying out th method. To make it possible in a simple manner to adjust th mixing proportion between oil and water, it is preferred, according to an embodiment of the apparatus, to include th features set forth in claim 5. An embodiment, which is very simple and hence i many cases preferred for economic reasons, is set forth i claim 6. If there is a desire for making it possible to spra liquid mists with varying compositions in different stabl sections, the apparatus may according to a modified bu somewhat more expensive embodiment be adapted as set fort in claim 7. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following detailed portion of the presen description, the invention will be explained in more detai with reference to the exemplary embodiment of an apparatu for use in carrying out the method according to the inventio shown on the drawing, Figure 1 diagrammatically showing a piggery, in whic the apparatus is installed, Figure 2 likewise diagrammatically showing the mos important components of the apparatus and their intercon nections, and Figure 3 showing the injector constituting an import ant new component of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As mentioned above, a piggery 1 is shown in Figur 1. In this piggery, a pipe system 2 is installed, the inle side of which is connected to a supply unit 3, and the outle of which consists of a number of atomizing nozzles 4. As will be evident from Figure 2, the supply unit consists of a high-pressure pump unit 5, an injector 6, th drive-nozzle inlet of which is connected to the outlet o the pump unit 5, and an oil reservoir 7 connected to th suction inlet in the injector 6, the latter's outlet bein connected to the pipe system 2, which in the piggery 1 sup plies liquid from the injector 6 to the individual atomizin nozzles 4, said liquid in the first instance being draw in by the pump unit 5, e.g. in the form of water from th waterworks of the district concerned. The high-pressure pump unit 5 may comprise any pum being able to deliver water at a pressure of the order o magnitude 100-200 bar and in a quantity per unit time suffi cient to form the desired quantity of liquid mist. It ha been found that a so-called high-pressure cleaner can mee these conditions. The injector shown in Figure 3 consists in a manne known in principle of an injector housing 11, in which var ious spaces and canals are provided, viz. a drive nozzle 12 opening into a drive-nozzle cana 13, a suction chamber 14 surrounding the drive-nozzl canal 13, and - an outlet 15 aligned with the drive-nozzle canal 1 and, at the upstream end to the left in the drawing in direct communication with the suction chamber 14 The upstream end of the drive nozzle 12 is, by mean of a quick-coupling female part 16, adapted to be connecte to the high-pressure pump unit 5 through a pressure hos (not shown) . Through a suction-chamber inlet 17, the suction cham ber 14 of the injector is connected to a hose nipple 1 adapted to be connected through a hose (not shown) to th oil reservoir 7, the latter containing the oil to be spraye out as a component of the liquid mist. In a manner known in principle, a non-return valv 19 adapted to open in the inlet direction is placed betwee the suction-chamber inlet 17 and the hose nipple 18 in orde to prevent liquid from flowing back through the latter. Also associated with the non-return valve 19 is throttling valve consisting of a valve seat 20 and a con 21, of which the latter may be adjusted relative to th valve seat 20 by means of a rotatable knob 22, thus makin it possible to adjust the inflow of oil. The outlet 15 is directly connected to a quick-coupl ing male part 23 with a view to being connected to the pip system 2. The atomizing nozzles 4 may be of any suitable type, e.g. in the form of a turbulence-chamber nozzle or a deflect or nozzle as illustrated in a diagrammatic sketch on pag 12 in "Orientering nr. 76" referred to initially. When a liquid mist consisting of water with a smal proportion of oil is to be sprayed out, the high-pressur pump unit 5 is started, so that the injector 6 in a know manner will aspirate oil from the oil reservoir 7 in a quant ity per unit time depending i.a. on the adjustment of th cone 21 relative to the valve seat 20. Now, a liquid mis consisting of water with a small proportion of oil will b sprayed out through the atomizing nozzles 4. During the initial running-in of the plant, it i possible to adjust the rotatable knob 22 to achieve th mixture proportion desired, which may be checked by takin samples of the mist having been sprayed out, upon which th rotational position of the knob 22 may be noted by means o a pointer 24 cooperating with a scale (not visible in th drawing) attached to a dial 25. If it is desired to spray liquid mist with differen compositions in different sections of the piggery, possibl by adding medicines, the arrangement with one single commo injector with associated oil reservoir may be replaced by number of injectors, each having its own oil reservoir. This alternative is not shown in the drawing. LIST OF PARTS 1 Piggery 2 Pipe system 3 Supply unit 4 Atomizing nozzle 5 High-pressure pump unit 6 Injector 7 Oil reservoir 11 Injector housing 12 Drive nozzle 13 Drive-nozzle canal 14 Suction chamber 15 Outlet 16 Quick-coupling female part 17 Suction-chamber inlet 18 Hose nipple 19 Non-return valve 20 Valve seat 21 Cone 22 Knob (rotatable) 23 Quick-coupling male part 24 Pointer 25 Dial

Claims: C L A I S : 1. Method of atomizing spraying of a mixture of oi and water to form a liquid mist, expecially with a view t laying dust in animal stables, characterized in that th oil and the water are supplied indivually to at least on injector, in which they are mixed before being sprayed out. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized i that the water is introduced into the drive-nozzle inlet o the injector, while the oil is introduced into the suctio inlet of the injector. 3. Method according to claim 2 , characterized i that the water is supplied to the drive-nozzle inlet of th injector at a pressure of the order of magnitude of 100-20 bar. 4. Apparatus for use when carrying out the metho according to any one or any of the claims 1-3 , characterize by comprising at least one injector of the kind comprisin a drive-nozzle inlet (16) connected to the drive nozzl (12) of the injector, a suction inlet (17) connected to th suction chamber (14) of the injector, as well as an outle (15) placed in alignment with the nozzle channel (13) o the drive nozzle (12) and at its upstream end connected t the suction chamber, said drive-nozzle inlet (16) bein adapted to be connected to a source of water at high press ure, e.g. of the order of magnitude of 100-200 bar, and th suction inlet (17) being adapted to be connected to a sourc of oil at a lower pressure, a member (23) adapted to b connected to one or a number of atomizing nozzles (4) or t have such nozzles attached to it being placed in continuatio of the outlet (15) . 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized i an adjustable throttling valve (20,21) being placed in th suction inlet (17) or the latter's supply canal in each injector. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterize by comprising equipment common to a number of spraying-out locations (4) and consisting of a) a high-pressure water source (5) , b) an oil reservoir (7) , and c) an injector (6) , cl) the drive-nozzle inlet (16) of which is connected to the high-pressure water source (5) , c2) the suction inlet (18) of which is connected to the oil reservoir (7) , and c3) the outlet of which is connected to a pipe system (2) connected to said spraying-out locations (4) . 7. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by comprising common equipment for a number of spraying-out locations (4) and consisting of a) a high-pressure water source, and b) at least two injectors, bl) the drive-nozzle inlets of which are connected to said high-pressure water source, b2) the outlets of which are connected to at least one spraying-out location, and b3) the suction inlets of which are connected to or adapt¬ ed to be connected to at least one reservoir contain¬ ing oil and possibly other additives.

Inventors: LAURSEN BENT, LAURSEN, BENT
Applicants: LAURSEN BENT, WESTERGAARD KNUD E IND AS, K.E.W. INDUSTRI A/S, LAURSEN, BENT
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1, B05B7